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T. B. BROWN. DEVICE OR GUIDING TONGUED AN]; anoovnn SHEATHING PLANKS.

No. 293,223. Patented Feb. 12, 1-884.

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r 'U virnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRUMAN B. BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR GUlDl NG-TONGUED AND GROOVED SHEATHING PLANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,223, dated Application filed August 18,1883. (No model.)

of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, cation.

This invention relates to an improvement in means for placing in position the sheathingplanks used in digging trenches, making excavations for the foundations of buildings, and similar works, more espcci ally when the sheathwhich form a part of this specifiing-planks are tongue d and grooved. In many localities it is found necessary to make the sheathing water-tight, or as nearly so as may be practicable, and for that purpose tongued and grooved planks are employed; and it has hitherto been found very difficult in driving down the planks to keep the groove of the plank that is being driven properly engaged with the tongue on the plank last placed in position, and consequently an imperfect joint is formed between the two; and in many instances this difficulty is increased by reason of the lower ends of the planks being submerged in mud or water, "so that they cannot be seen. The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient device by the use of which these difficulties can be overcome, and the planks readily and easily fitted together, so as to form a tight joint.

The invention consists in a device or tool consisting. of two parallel bars, betweenwhich a sheave or pulley is journaled, said pulley having a circumferential groove, which. fits over the tongue of the plank that is being driven,while the outer rims of the pulley press against the edge of said plank, and one of said parallel bars having spikes or prongs formed ,thereon,which are driven into the upper sur:

face of the breast-piece, so that said pulley bears againstthe edge of the plank while the latter is being driven down, thereby insuring aproper connection between adjoining sheathing-planks. y V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved device in position for February 12 1884.

use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the several figures.

In the said drawings,Fig. 1 may represent a portion of an excavation'for a foundation, 0. being the surface of theground, b one side or face of the cut, and c the bottom of the eXcavation. (Z represents the sheathing-planks that have already been placed in position, and d the plank that is being driven. The planks are usually driven down by aheavy mallet, a metal cap, f, being temporarily placed on thetop end of the plank to prevent its being splintered or bruised by the blows while it is being driven. 9 represents the ordinarybreast-piece or plank, between which and the face I) of the cut the sheathing-planks are inserted, and which is kept inplace by suitable braces, it. These parts already mentioned are not of my invention, and are introduced for the purpose of showing the manner in which my improved device is used.

1? represents my improved device or tool, which is constructed as follows; i is a straight metal bar having its ends k It turned at about right angles to its main body, and having spikes or prongs s 8 formed thereon,which are driven into the upper face of the breast-piece g,to hold the tool in position while it is being used. lis another similar bar, one portion, Z,

of which is welded or otherwise attached to i, and its other end turned so as to be parallel with said bar z. These bars I form from bariron, about two inches wide and one-half inch thick, or other suitable dimensions. Between the bars i and Zis pivoted or journaled asheave or pulley, '12, having a circumferential groove,

it, into which fits the tongue 1) on the plank d,

while the rims n of the pulley are in contact with the edge of said 1 and 2.

The plank (2 having been placed by hand in position to be driven, withthe groove on its edge properly connected' with the tongue on the edge of the plank (I last driven, the bar i is laid alongside of the edge of the breast-piece g, and the pulley a in contact with the edge of the plank d, the tongue on said plank entering the groove n, and the prongs s and .s are plank, as shown in Figs.

then driven into the breast-piece. The plank d can then be driven down without further supervision, as the action of the device insures its being properly joined to the last-driven plank d.

The prong s is made with both sides inclined, (see Fi 3,) and is driven in, a short distance before commencing to drive 5-, and said prong s is inclined, as shown, away from 8, this construction tending to force the pulley into firm contact with the edge of the plank,when both of said prongs are driven into the breastpiece, and s is driven in advance of s. The pulley 4% turns freely in its bearings, and may be arranged relatively to the bars t and Z, so ,as to be adapted for use when the sheathing proceeds from left to right, or in the direction opposite to that shown in the drawings. This may be accomplished by forming the prongs s s on the top, instead of on the underside of the bars Ink-that is to say, on the opposite edges from those on which theyare shown in the drawings.

A flange may be substituted for the groove n, in order to adapt" the pulley to work in the groove of a plank, instead of upon the tongue thereon; or, incase the planks have'plain edges, a plain pulley may be used, both of which construetions I deem to be the substantial equivalents of the construction above described.

By means of my invention the planks are kept perfectly in line with each other while they are being driven down, and perfect joints are insured, and in addition to this the necessity of having a man stationed near the lower ends of the planks to direct their course is obviated.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. The device or tool 1?, composed of the following parts, namely: the bar t, provided with prongs sand 8, formed on its outwardly-extend ing ends 7:, the bar Z, welded or otherwise attached to said bar t', and the sheave or pulley n, pivoted or journaled between said bars 7 and Z, and provided with the circumferential groove n, all substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

,2. I11 combination with the bars Z t k and pulley 12, all constructed substantially as de scribed, the prongs or spikes s ands, the lat ter being beveled or inclined, as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

I TRUMAN B. BROVN. WVitnesses:

M. H. TOPPING,

.TonN S. THORNTON. 

